Automobile seat structure



July 7, 1953 J. M. DoRfroN AUTOMOBILE SEAT STRUCTURE Filedoct. 18. 195o5 Sheets-Sheet l QH.. f w, -i ---Mll 2 W a July 7, 1953 J. M. DoRToNAUTOMOBILE SEAT STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lFiled oct. 18, 195oINVENTOR. /0/7/7 /M porfa/7 Afro/776,145.

July 7, 1953 J. M. DoRToN 2,644,505

AUTOMOBILE SEAT STRUCTURE Filed oet. y1:3, 195o 5 sheetsnsheet sINVENToR. f//y A4. @0r/00 'BY ad l feature of the seat cushion, asconcerns this invention, is that it be resiliently compressible. As bestshown in Fig. 3, it comprises an upholstery pad 5i supported yieldablyabove base plate I2 by ine-ans of a plurality of coil springs 20interposed therebetween. The pliable sheet covering 22 of said cushionis turned downwardly around the sides of the cushion and secured byfasteners such as rivets 24 to an upstanding flange 26 formed on baseplate l2.

The back cushion of the front seat structure is divided into two likesections 28 and 30, each having a width substantially one-half that ofseat cushion it. Said sections are independently adjustable to ahorizontal position as hereinafter described, whereby to form a bed ofeither half or full width. Each of said back cushions is relativelythin. Although the precise thickness is a matter of choice, one andone-half inches is suggested as an example.

Each section is pivotally secured at its lower edge to the upperrearward edge of seat cushion it by means of a suitable hinge 32, andextends upwardly therefrom. The upper edge portion of each section isturned rearwardly and downwardly, and is secured at its edge byfasteners such as bolts 34 to a horizontal, transversely extending crossbar 36. Said cross bars form a part of a supporting structurehereinafter fully described. Back cushions 28 and 3B are resilient,

having relatively stiff resilient struts 38 therein extending upwardlyfrom hinge 32 to the point where said cushions break rearwardly, andrelatively lexibleresilient members such as wires #it fixed to the upperends of struts 38 and extending around the rearwardly curved portion ofthe cushions to the edge thereof.

Rigidly fixed to the upper surface of base plate adjacent each edge ofeach back cushion is a tubular guide 42 extending from the rearward edgeof said base plate to a point adjacent the.

forward edge thereof. Apertures 44 are formed in upholstery covering 22of seat cushion I6 at the rearward side of said cushion, through whichsaid guides extend. A The pair of guides asso-ciated with each backcushion are parallel, and at right angles to the hinge 32 of said backcushion, A tubular slide i6 is carried for longitudinal slidingmov-ement in each of guides 42. Each of said slides is formed to presenta toothed rack 59 along the lower edge thereof and extending the fulllength thereof. Guide tube A42 has a slot 48 formed along the lower edgethereof for accommodating rack. Said slot extends the full length ofsaid guide tube, and said guidetube is welded or otherwise fixed to baseplate i2 at either. side of said slot, as best shown in Figs. 8, 9, andi0.

Slides le associated with each back cushion are movable in guides 42 bya mechanism best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and including a horizontalshaft 52 extending transversely to guide tubes 42 beneath base plate I2.There are two such shafts, coaxially disposed and each extending beneaththe pair of guide tubes associated with each back cushion. Said shaftsare carried for rotation in bearings 54 fixed to the under side of baseplate i2. Two pinions 5S are fixed on each shaft 52, said pinionsextending upwardly through holes 58 formed in base plate l2 and meshingrespectively with the racks 5U' of 'the' slides 4S carried in theassociated guide tubes.`

At its outer end, each shaft 52 passes centrally through a circularindex plate S fixed to base plate l2 by means of bracket 62, and a Crank64 4 is fixed to said shaft adjacent the outer surface of said indexplate. As shown in Fig. 3, said crank carries at its free end a detentpin 66 normally urged toward index plate BD by a spring 68 disposedabout said detent pin and manually retractable from said index plate bymeans of handle l. Said detent pin is adapted to enter selectively anyof a plurality of holes 'l2 in the index plateconcentrically ardundshaft 52. It is apparent that by manually retracting the detent 65,crank 64 may be turned and will operate through shaft 52, pinion 56, andrack 5D to move slides 46 forwardly or rearwardly. When the detent isreleased, it will enter one of holes 12 to secure the slides in anydesired position.

Connected totherearward end of each slide lli by means of a hingestructure 14, which will rearward edge of base plate i2 in spacedrelation l behind back cushions 2B and 3D. Each support rod comprises atube 18 attached at-its lower end to hinge structure 74 and a tube 8Gfixed at its end to the cross bar 35 of the associated back cushion`.and having fits lower end portion disposed Vslidably in tube 18. Thedegree of extension of support rods T6 maybe set by means of lockingAdevices-82 each comprising, as best shown in Figs. l1 and l2, a collar84 disposed slidably about tube just above tube l18 and a longitudinallytapered circular-skirt 8.6 depending from said collar and adapted toenter the annular space between tubes 'I8 vand 8G. Said skirt islongitudinallyl split to form segmental fingers etv which are adapted tobe forced inwardly by the wedging action of tube -18 to grip tube 8i!frictionally, .thereby securing said tubes against relative longitudinalmovement.

Hinge structure lf3, which is detailed in Figs. 4 to 10, includes alplate 9% disposed in the vertical longitudinal plane of slide 5 andhaving ay tongue 92 projecting forwardly into the rearward end portionof slide tube 46 and Welded or otherwise rigidly secured therein. Saidplate is substantially thinner than the internal diameter of said slidetube., -A second plate e4, lying in the same plane as plate 9G, isprovided with a tongue 96 extending into the lower end of tube it andrigidly secured therein.- Plates Biland 94 are connected by a pair oflinks SS and I. Each of said'links is double comprising two planarmembers disposed respectively at opposite sides u of plates 9@ and S4,as best shown in Figs. 7 to 10. Each of said links is substantiallyIL-shaped,

the shorter leg'of link-98 being .pivotally secured to plate 9G by meansof bolt |62 at a point spaced above -guideV tube 43. Bolt 02 carriesfriction washers H34 bearing against link 98 for a purpose I hereinafterappearing.`

The longer arm of link 98 is normally disposed coaxially with slide 46and guide tube @2, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and

extends rearwardly from bolt yi 02. v

The shorter leg of-.link .ESQ is pivotally secured to plate 94 by meansof pivot pin |06 at Link 93 extends rearwardly beyondpivot pin Y ricallyacross said tube.

' more notches |22 maybe formed .in the :wall of of pivot lpin |24, said-pin lextending throughga slot-|2|5 formed in said .plateandvfadaptedfto move itransversely through! said slot;. Said ,slot hasan arcuate section |28 Lconcentricvvith bolt '|02 anda straightsectionl|30 extendingforwardiv ly substantially coaxially withslide-46.-f Pivotr pins |06, |08,"|'|2, and- |24,' and.boltV |02, .areparallel with each othenand' withffzthe `cushion hiiiges32. ..f .IA pairof rods |32 are pivotally"connected'at their rearward ends to pivot pin|24, respectively Sat1-opposite sides bof 1plat'e`iS0, .andextendforwardlyftherefromintoV the vrearward end vof slide tubef46, bearing`at their forward ends :against a'disc |345 carriedmovably in saideslidetube'. Ahelicalcompression.springl 36 isdisposedwithwhich isconcentricwith Vbolt |02.

Y mentor"y the seat backs.

in theslide tube, bearing at oneend againstdisc |34y and at itsfoppositeend against a dise |38 disposedat the' forwardend-oftheslide Atube and'secured therein by Va pin |40, extending .diamet "l The operation offthe seatstructure-isas .fol-

lows: The normalor driving position lof the'sea't is'shown inrsolidlines infFig.v 1,?and rFigl '421 In this position, it is apparentthat `the inclination of 'either or both'back cushions may 'be'ad'justedtothe users taste by turning' cranks 64 as above described `to moveslides 46 forwardly ,or'l'reare wardly. Said slides are 'prevented fromoverrunning p'inions 56 by a "pairof setscrews |42 vand |44 `xedV 'intheside wall of each guide tube 42 as shown in4 Fig. 7.. Sai-d'set4`screws"-pro'ject intolthepath of slide-tube 46thereby limiting themovement thereof. With s'et screwzl42fremoved'; the slides may :bepulled `outwardly"from'therear -wardends of the guide tubesLz' It lisapparent falso thatvthe height of the back'cushions maylbefadjustedy byloosening locking'members 32 `and slid-Y I.

ing tubes lill!` up-wardlyor :downwardlyin tubes 1.8. Th'edispositionof?v struts 138 and. wires 40 in the back cushions provides that theeXingof said 'back cushions caused by this adjustmentfioatinghinges.'32, it is Vapparent"that the'fback cushions will move with the seatcushion when the 'latterisfcompressed by the weight fof-'the oc#cupant.- This eliminates the frictiowbetweenthe back cushion 'and' thevoccupantsba'ck 'which iwould otherwise' occur1.during' the 'continuousjostling `of driving; and has .beenfondto :icone` tribute greatly todriving comfort andthe reduc-v when it is'desired to pivot either backcushiony downwardly toeither a semi-reclining or a'hori zontal position,the back ycushion is first pivoted forwardly to the position shown insolidlines in Fig. 5. l*Guide tube 42 has a slot |46 formed in the-upperedge thereof to permit the upward movement of the hinge structure,During this movement, pvot pin |24'moves through straight section ofslot |26, and is thereby moved relatively closer to bolt |02. Thiscauses a relative scissoring action between links 98 and 100V aboutpivot pin |08,.thereby moving pivot pin ||2 through radial section V||8of slot ||4 into the arcuate' section ll of said slot. The links andslots are so proportioned that pivot Apin ||2 enters varcuate slotsection' I6 at the same time pivot pin |24 reaches the rearward end ofstraight slot section |30. Anyfurther forward motion of the seat backwill not cause any further relative movement of links 9.8 and |00, sincepivot |24 then moves` lthrough arcuate slot section |28 Springsv |36,acting through rods |32, assist the forward move- Said springs are not,however, so powerful as to pivot the backs forwardly without assistance.As Vpivot pin |24 reaches the rearward end of straight slot section |30,disc |34'Vabuts against the forward end Vof tongue 92, thereby removingany springaction fromthe hinge structure. This tends 'to hold the hingeIlinks substantially stationary whilethe support rodsl V'i6' are pivotedrearwardly about pivot. pin' |05 Ato the position vshown in dotted linesin Fig, 5. The friction washers |04 loading pivot |02 also tend to holdthe hinge links stationary while support rods 'I6 are pivoted at |06.

Asthe support rods i6 are pivoted rearwardly slots y||4 areinoved overpivot `pin ||2 until said pin lies at the entry to radial portions `|20of said slots. The back cushion is then pushed downwardly to theVposition shown in Fig. V6 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1'. During thismovement, the travel of pivot pin |24 through straight slot section |30,causes a relative scissoring action of links 98 and; |00 about `pivot|08, which vmoves pivotpin v| l2 outwardly into radial slot section |20.As said pin abuts the'outer end of slot |20, pivot pin |24- abuts theforward end of slot |30, and thehinge lis locked against further down-Ward movement. Springs |136 cushion the downwardY movementY of the seatbacks. If it is desired to Set the 'back at a semi-recliningposition,

' support rods '16 are pivoted at i06'until pivot 'position v Hingingthe back cushions to the seat cushion substantiallyrat'the line ofintersection of the the back is'lowered, its rearward projection loe--tion cfdriving fatigue. While this feature i'slnot in itself new, beingshown in applicants prior patents and applications, a main objective ofthis invention is the adaptation'of'this type zof seat toformabed. rl nsurfaces thereof, a feature made possible bythe thinness ofthebackcushion, provides that when hind'the front seat structure will belessl than the normal extension of 'the back above the seat; therebyassisting in forming .a bed in automobiles having only a'llimited spacebetween kthe front and rearlseat structures. It is usual in modernautomobiles that the front seat back is of greater height'v .thanthedistance .from `the-back of the front'seat .to the .front of thebackseat. In the .present structure, moreover, .therearward extensiongof'rthe, front seat 'back structure maybe adjustedLei-,therr by,-t'elescoping `the support rods T6, or vby movingslides 45 forwardly orrearwardly. When the back cushion is lowered to form a bed, these twoadjustments supplement each other, and may be combined either toincrease or decrease the rearward extension of the back cushion, therebyaccurately to bridge the distance to the forward edge of the back seatstructure.

Y VWhile I have shown a speciiic embodiment of my invention, it isapparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it istherefore desired that my protection extend to all subject matterfalling properly within the scope of the appended claims What Iclain'is:

Tl. An adjustable seat structure comprising a base, a resilientlycompressible seat cushion mounted on said base, support members securedat their lower ends to said base Vand extending upwardly therefrom, aresilient back cushion hinged at lits lower edge to the upper rearwardedge of said seat cushion and extending upwardly therefrom, the upperedge portion of said back cushion being curved rearwardly and downwardlyand secured to the upper ends of said support members, and means foradjustably moving said lsupport members forwardly and rearwardly on saidbase, whereby to adjust the angle of inclination of said back cushion.2. An adjustable seat structure comprising a base, a resiliently'compressible seat cushion mounted on said base. support members securedat their lower endsfto said base and extending upwardly therefrom, aresilient back cushion hinged at its lower edge to the upper rearwardedge of said seat cushion and 'extending upwardly therefrom, the upperedge portion of said back cushion being' curved rearwardly anddownwardly and secured to the upper ends of said support members, andmeans for adjusting the height of said support members whereby to adjustthe height of said back cushion.

3. An adjustable seat structure comprising a base, a resilientlycompressible seat cushion mounted on said base, support members securedat their lower ends to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, aresilient back cushion hinged at its lower edge to the upper rearwardedge'of said seat cushion and extending upwardly therefrom, the upperedge portion of said back cushion being curved rearwardly and downwardlyand secured to the upper ends of said support members, means foradjustably moving said support members iorwardly and rearwardly on saidbase whereby to adjust the angle of inclination of said back cushion,and'means for'adjusting the height of said support members whereby toadjust the height of said back cushion.

4l. An adjustable seat structure comprising a base, a resilientlycompressible seat cushion mounted onV said base, support members carriedpivotally at their lower ends by said base and adjustable from asubstantially upright position to a substantially horizontal position,and a resilient back cushion hinged at its lower edge to the upperrearward edge of said seat cushion, the upper edge portion of said backcushion being curved rearwardly and downwardly and secured to the upperends of said support members.

5. An adjustable seat structurecomprising a base, a resilientlycompressible seat cushion mounted on said base, support members carriedpivotally at their lower ends by said base and adjustable from asubstantially upright position to a substantially horizontal position, aresilient back cushion hinged at its lower edge to the upper rearwardedge of said seat cushion, the upper edge portion of said back cushionbeing curved rearwardly and downwardly and secured to the upper ends'ofsaid support members, and means for adjustably moving said supportmembers forwardly and rearwardly with respect to said base.

6. An adjustable seat structure comprising a base, a resilientlycompressible seat cushion mounted on said base, support members carriedpivotally at their lower ends by said base and adjustable from asubstantially upright position to a substantially horizontal position, aresilient back cushion hinged at its lower edge to the upper rearwardedge of said seat cushion, the upper edge portion vof said back cushionbeing curved rearwardly and downwardly and secured to the upper ends ofsaid support members, and means for adjustably varying the length ofsaid support members.

'7. An adjustable seat structure. comprising a base, -a resilientlycompressible seat cushion mounted on said base, support members carriedpivotally at their lower ends by said base and adjustable from asubstantially upright position to a substantially horizontal position, aresilient back cushion hinged at its lower edge to the upper rearwardedge of said seat cushion, the upper.

edge portion of said back cushion being curved rearwardly and downwardlyand secured to the upper ends of said support members, means foradjustably moving said support members forwardly and rearwardly on saidbase, and means for adjustably varying the length of said supportmembers. v

8. An adjustable seat structure comprising a base, a resilientlycompressible seat cushion mounted-on said base, a resilient back cushionhinged at its lower edge to said seat cushion and normally extendingupwardly therefrom, the upper edge portion of said back cushion beingcurved rearwardly and downwardly, a guide member secured to said base, aslide member carried for forward and rearward movement by said guidemember, means for adjustably xing said slide at any desired position inits movement,

and asupport member hingeably secured at one end to said slide and atits opposite end to the upper edge of said back cushion, said supportmember being adapted by said hingeable connection to be moved from anormally substantially upright position to a substantially horizontalposition wherein vsaid back cushion is disposed in substantiallycoplanar relation withl said seat cushion.-

9. An adjustable seat structure comprising a planarfbase, aresilientlycompressible seat cushion mounted on said base, a pair of resilient backcushions each hinged at its lower edge to the upper'rearward edge ofsaid seat cushion, the upper edge portions of said back cushions beingcurved rearwardly and downwardly, member mounted on said base Yadjacenteach transverse edge of each of said seat cushions, a slide carried forforwardand rearward movement by each of said guide members, means forreleasably fixing each of said slides at any desired position in itsmovement, a support rod hingeably secured at its lower end to therearward end of each of said slides rearwardly from a guide v disatftushionsithe lupper edge olf Said backfcushionvv being secu-reatosaid cross bar. I

1'0'.`An adjustable'seat st-ructure comprising a planar base,fa"resilientlyfcompressible 'seat-'cushion mounted-'on'lsaid base,-apairlofresilient back lcushions* 'feachr fhinged at its "loweredgei Itofthe upper rearward .edge of said? seat -cushiomthe associatedwitnfecn'cf- Vupper-,edge portions offsaid back'cushions-being cushions,a pair of pinions fixedztoqeachrof: said shafts andmeshingrespectivelywith the racks of the associated slides, means releasably securing eachvofi-said shaftsi against Irotationfa 'support rod hingeably.,securedatits lower-end to the rearward end of each of s d, slides rearwardly from'said seat cushion annadjustable from a substantially uprighttoasubstantially horizontal position, and across bar extending betweenAvand fixed to the free vends ofthef'two support rods associated witheach'of :said-*back cushions* the upperedge of-said-wseatgcushi rrfbeingsecured to said ycross bar. l Y adjustable seat1 V a y a planarloas'elfa resiliently'corii ssible sea 'cush-v ionmounte'd onsaidbasejaipairo resilientback cushions each hinged 'at its-lower edgeto the upper rearward edge of said seat cushion, the

upper edge portions of said back cushions being curved rearwardly anddownwardly, a guide member mounted on said base adjacent eachktransverse edge of each of said seat cushions, a slide carried forforward and rearward movement -by each of said guide members, meansreleasably xing each of said slides at any desired position in itsmovement, a longitudinally extensible support rod hingeably secured atits lower end to the rearward end of each of said slides rearwardly fromsaid seat cushionand. adjustable from a substantially upright to asubstantially horizontal position, means releasably locking said supportrods at any desired degree of extension, and a cross' bar extendingbetween Y and fixed to the free ends of the two support rods associatedwith each of said seat cushions, the upper edge of said ba-ck cushionbeing secured to said cross bar.

12. An adjustable seat structure comprising a planar base, a resilientlycompressible seat cushion mounted on said base, a pair of resilient backcushions each hinged at its lower edge to `the upper rearward edge ofsaid seat cushion-the upper edge portions of said back cushions beingcurved rearwardly and downwardly, a guide member mounted on said baseadjacent each transverse edge of each of said seat cushions,Y

a slide @carried for forward and rearward movement by each of said guidemembers, a rack carried by each of said slides, a pair of shafts carriedfor rotation by said base transversely to the movement of said slides,each of said shafts transversing the two slides associated with one of.said seat cushions, a pair of pinions fixed to each of Said shafts andmeshing respectively with the racks of the associated slides, means forreleasably securing each of said shafts against rotation, alongitudinally extensible supajnhinge structure-.joining lsaidloackassembly to 'jsaid *seatassembly for `pivotal movementv on aklioriz'orital transverse axis', 'said hinge structure comprising a rstplatevfixedly associated'with said seat Aassemblyyaasecond plate xed'lyassoc iated with said loa-ck lassembly, said plates being disposed in "avertical planetransverse tothe hinge :axis 1andeach having afslot formedtherethrough,` -a `rst link pivotally securedat one end to said firstplate Aat a point above the hori- VJzontal midplane of the hinge andextending rearwardly therefrom, a second link pivotally securedtosaidsecond'plate :at la point above the horizontal midplianeof thehinge and'extending forwardly therefrom, a pivotal connection bie- 'tweeu'n fsaidlinks intermediate 'their ends-av first pin *fixed in the rearward 'en d)of said link and extending through the slot ofl said second plate, saidslot having an arcuate portion con'- cent'ric withthe pivotal connection'of said-second llnkijtoj's i'rsecond?'plate'Y and'fradial portionsextendihgnutwardly from each end of'said arcuate po-rtion, and a secondpin secured in the end of Ysaid second link Iandextending through theslot of said first plate, said slot being disposed parallel to thehorizontal midplane of the hinge, said pins being disposed at greaterdistances from the pivotal connection between said links than thepivotal connections of said links to said plates.v

14. In an adjustable seat structure of the class described, a seatassembly, a back assembly, and

Ya hinge structure joining said backlassembly to f said seat assembly, asecond plate fixedly associated with said back assembly, said platesbeing v disposed in a vertical plane transverse to the hinge axis andeach having a slot formed therethrough, a first link pivotally securedat one end to said first plate at a point above the horizontalinidpl-ane vof the hinge and extending rearwardly therefrom, a secondlink pivotally secured to said second plate at a point above thehorizontal mid- 'plane of the hinge and extending forwardly therefrom, apivotal connection vbetween said links intermediate'their ends, a rstpin xed in the rearward end of said first link and extending through theslot of said second plate, said slot having an arcuate portionconcentric with :the pivotal connection of said second link toconnection between said links than the pivotal said second plate andradial portions extending outwardly from each end of said arcuateportion, and -a second pin secured in the end of said second link andextending through the slot of said iirst plate, saidv slot beingdisposed parallel Yto the horizontal midplane of the hinge, said pinsbeing disposed at greater distances from the pivotal connections of saidlinks to said'platcs, whereby 1 1 as said back assembly is pivotedforwardly, the movement; of said second pin in the slo-t of said rstplates causes a relative pivotal movement of said links to move said rstpin out of a radial portion into the arcuate portion of the slot of saidsecond plate, whereby said back assembly may then be pivoted about thepivotal -connection of said second link with said second plate -to bringthe other radial portion of said slot opposite said first pin, 'andwhereby rearward pivotal movement of said back assembly will cause saidfirst pin to enter said radial slot portion, said rearw-ard movementbeing limited by the engagement of said pins with vthe end Walls oftheir respective slots, and the radial portions of the slot in saidsecond plate being so disposed that the back assembly may be positionedeither substantially upright or substantially horizontal.

15. The `device as set forth in claim 14 having resilient means carriedyby said seat assembly and adapted to exert a rearward pressure on saidsecond pin, whereby to assist in the forward pivotal movement of saidback assembly yand to cushion the rearward pivotal movement of saidbackl assembly.

16. The `device as Set -forth in claim 14 having a spring carried bysaid seat assembly and urging said second pin rearwardly, and anabutment carried by said seat assembly and adapted to arrest the actionof said spring as said first pin enters the arcuate `portion of the slotin said second plate.

17. The device as set forth in claim 14 having Irictional means forloading the pivotal connection of Said rst link to said rst plate,whereby said connection is rendered stiffer than the pivotal connectionof said second link to said second plate. 18. The device as set'forth inclaim 14 having a spring carried by said seat assembly and urging saidsecond pin rearwardly, an abutment carried by said seat assembly andadapted to arrest the action of said spring as said rst pin enters thearcuate portion of the slot of said second plate, and frictional meansfor stiiening the pivotal connection of said rst link toA said firstplate.

' 19. The device as set forth in claim 14 wherein 4the slot in saidsecond plate is provided with -a radially extending portion intermediatethe end radial portions thereof, whereby said back assembly may bepositioned at a semi-reclining angle intermediate the upright andhorizontal positions thereof.

" JOHN M. DORTON.

References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,390,177 Taylor Sept. 6, 1921 1,548,334 Sebell Aug. 4, 19251,677,434 Dorton July 17, 1928 2,324,902 Benzick et a1 July 20, 1943FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date A682,808 France Feb. 18, 1930717,556 France Oct. 20, 1931

